[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E20]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY MONTH

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                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 27, 2000

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of National 
Biotechnology Month. Biotechnology is revolutionizing the quality of 
life for millions of people around the world. The United States, and 
Washington State in particular, is home to some of the leading 
biotechnology companies in the world.
  Biotechnology is revolutionizing every facet of medicine, from 
diagnosis to treatment of all diseases, not just bacterial infections. 
It is detailing life at the molecular level and someday will take much 
of the guesswork out of disease management and treatment. The 
implications for health care are greater than any milestone in medical 
history.
  Take cancer, for example. The first biotechnology medicines have been 
used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to enhance 
their effectiveness, lessen adverse side effects and reduce the chances 
of cancer recurrence. Future biotech cancer drugs, however, such as 
vaccines that prevent abnormal cell growth, may make traditional 
treatments obsolete.
  In cardiovascular diseases, biotech drugs that either dissolve or 
prevent blood clots in the treatment of heart attacks are being applied 
to cases of ischemic stroke, reducing brain damage and hospital 
recovery time. Another biotech medicine is proving successful in late-
stage clinical trials for angina and may represent the first new class 
of drugs to treat that condition since introduction of calcium channel 
blockers in the 1970's.
  Advancements in research on inflammatory diseases also have yielded 
first-of-a-kind drugs to treat multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid 
arthritis. Other medicines in late-stage clinical trials block the 
start of the molecular cascade that triggers inflammation's tissue 
damaging effects in numerous disease states.
  In treatment of infectious diseases, biotechnology is leading the 
attack on the alarming problem of drug-resistant bacteria, creating 
antibiotics to take the place of those no longer effective. It also has 
revealed the genetic composition of bacteria and viruses, making the 
search for new remedies more efficient. Most biotech drugs are designed 
to treat our most devastating and intractable illnesses. In many cases 
these medicines would be the first ever therapies for those diseases.
  In my home of Washington State, there are 116 biotechnology companies 
that employ over 7,000 people. Employment in Washington State 
biotechnology and medical technology industry is projected to increase 
to nearly 20,000 workers by 2005. Thousands of patient lives have been 
improved or saved by the relatively new products produced by Washington 
biotechnology companies. These products include Enbrel for rheumatoid 
arthritis, Leukine for cancer, and TOBI for cystic fibrosis. This 
number is expected to grow exponentially as more products are approved 
for market.
  It is vital that Congress and the administration take into account 
the developments and advancements in this industry and work to 
encourage the massive amount of private capital being invested in these 
medical breakthroughs. Congress can help by fully supporting federal 
investments in math and science education, research performed at public 
universities and the National Institutes of Health. Congress should 
work with the Administration to modernize the drug approval process and 
to make sure that the Medicare system takes advantage of the potential 
cost savings brought forth by developments in the biotechnology 
industry.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of National Biotechnology Month 
and look forward to the next great news in the newspapers of tomorrow.




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